Mozart: Requiem K.626 / Kyrie K.341

If this account of Mozart's Requiem does not convince you that HIP performances are at least worth sampling, then nothing will. Herreweghe's conducting is inspired, and the effect of his slimmed-down choir and orchestra is to make every nuance of music and text emerge with pellucid clarity and vividness of tonal color. Some performances of the Requiem are let down by one or more of the four soloists not quite being up to the task. Herreweghe's soloists are superb--not a weak link among them. The whole performance overflows with reverence, weightiness, and a deepy felt spirituality. The performance was recorded in concert, but there is not a trace of audience noise. The Harmonia Mundi sound engineers, who always do a stellar job, outdid themselves on this one, and the recording venue was ideal, as there is just the right amount of reverberation. Here is a rendition that deserves wide acclaim.

I really loved this recording. I needed a nice recording of classical religious music for my nephew's Catholic school. I did not want to walk into his class with my portable speaker playing something that could offend the lord. Other than that I very much like the "Dies Irae" section. Hollywood loves using "Dies Irae" for dramatic parts of movie. Moreover in the final scenes of the Watchmen film after all the people have died they play selections from this piece, as a result you're going to love it because you have definitely heard it before.

I came across this recording of Mozart's masterpiece on YouTube and immediately fell in love with it. Great sound! The soloists are top notch.

This 'live' recording was made in 1996 as has a strikingly real and present sound without being so close as to be uncomfortable. The orchestra is a period ensemble and both that the the choir are of appropriate size for the period.As is widely known, Mozart did not live to complete this work but he did in fact complete substantial parts of it and the rest was sufficiently sketched out to allow Sussmayr, a confident of Mozart, to complete the work as it has regularly been performed for close to two centuries.There have been many alternative versions, particularly over the last 30 years or so and presented by various musicologists or scholars, but Herreweghe feels that this earlier version is still more authentic bearing in mind Sussmayr's relationship with Mozart and his understanding of Mozart's intentions. In this version, there have been minor adjustments where it has been felt that Sussmayr's work lacked the ultimate finesse. This all seems very reasonable to me and it certainly works well on this recording.The performance itself is both thorough and compelling - far from dry scholarship. The great advantage of period performances as here, is that everything can be heard as Mozart intended and in correct balance. Modern orchestras are simply out of scale in so many ways and cannot help clouding the finer details.I would put this on a par with Gardiner's fine performance as well as Peter Schreier's and choice between the three will boil down to personal preference. Gardiner is a little faster overall and more incisive at times and Schreier takes a remarkable three minutes off the total time. This may seem rushed on paper but the performance did receive the 1984 Choral Award from the Gramophone jury and cannot lightly be dismissed either. The well performed Kyrie is an attractive extra work but unlikely to be critical in making a final choice.I would suggest that any one of these three Sussmayr performances would give considerable satisfaction as an 'only' buy but collectors interested in alternative versions may well find all three worth possessing, like myself. On that basis I would also suggest that Hogwood and Bruno Weil also offer fine performances in alternative completions.

.This recording of the Requiem is a complete success in every way. It's simply awesome. It's a powerful and yet subtle performance in which every note is clearly audible and every instrument can be heard. The choir and the soloists are excellent but the star of the show is Herreweghe. The sound quality is unmatched and balance between the orchestra and the choir is as quite right. There may be other recordings that are imbued with more religious sentiment but there is no lack of it here

I only have one other recording of this (by Bernstein) but I have heard plenty of other versions in full or in part. I recently purchased this CD and Herreweghe's version here is by far my favorite. Good tempos (not slow as molasses), great balance between the orchestra and the choir, and, hey it is actually recorded well. I don't know how many times I have been told a version is 'good' or the 'best' only to listen to it and be shocked by the poor recording / sound quality. This is the one to get. (This version is also sold in MP3 form under another link: http://www.amazon.com/Mozart-Requiem/dp/B0012X4EWO/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1330099242&sr=8-3 )

This version of Mozarts Requiem is one of the best I have heard in a long time. Although it was recorded with period instruments, it is a great version. It has a wonderful sound quality to the CD and the singers sound absolutely angelic and smooth. You can feel Mozart's terror when he was writing this piece. It is an incredibly emmotional experience and this CD was well recorded. The singers voices are very excellent and clear. I recommend this version of Requiem, especially if this is your first time listening or buying Requiem.

Ottima interpretazione, anche se preferisco Christofer Hogwood con L'Oyseau Lyre di qualche decade fa. Le registrazione poi è impeccapile come ci ha abituati Harmonia Mundi ormai da tempo.

No hace mucho que hice la reseña de la Misa en Do de Mozart por Herreweghe y la califiqué con cinco estrellas. Y cinco estrellas le voy a dar a su magnífica versión del Requiem, mi favorita junto a la de Celibidache (antes de que piensen que me he vuelto loco, denle una oportunidad sincera a la hiperversión de Celibidache).Gran director Herreweghe y gran versión del Requiem.

We first heard this beautiful music in its entirety at a concert held in the beautiful Sheldonian Theatre, Oxford, England. This lovely CD helps us to remember that sublime occasion.

J'ajoute mes 5 étoiles aux éloges.Une version des plus remarquables du Requiem de Mozart, qui fait honneur à la direction de Ph. Herreweghe, à l'Orchestre des Champs Elysées, aux voix solistes et Chœurs somptueux, sans compter la fabuleuse prise de son du label Harmonia Mundi.

モーツァルトのレクイエムにはまっています。ベーム、カラヤン３枚、ムーティ、バーンスタイン、コルボ、ショルティ、ガーデナー、アーノンクルー・・・。皆、それぞれに良いですが、この盤は、間違いなくお奨めです。モツレクは、曲そのものが、勿論、圧倒的に晴らしいですが、指揮者によって、それぞれ解釈が異なり、オーケストラ、ソロ、合唱、楽器の編成など、様々な演奏を楽しむことが出来ます。聴き比べると、どの演奏も、それぞれに魅力的で、本当に幸せな気持になります。この盤のオケもソロも合唱も、とても丁寧で美しく、録音も素晴らしく、心が洗われます。是非、聴いてみて下さい!